Speas' First Goal Emotional

Friday

Mar 29, 2013 at 12:01 AMMar 29, 2013 at 1:15 PM

As he sat deep in the bowels of RFK Stadium, Ben Speas was mentally preparing to make his fourth career start. It had already been an emotional trip for the second-year player, but one of his teammates offered him a premonition.

"I was sitting next to him in the locker room right before the game," said midfielder Eddie Gaven, "and Chad (Marshall) told him that he was going to get his first goal that game and I was like, 'Yeah, I think so too, Ben.' "

As he sat deep in the bowels of RFK Stadium, Ben Speas was mentally preparing to make his fourth career start. It had already been an emotional trip for the second-year player, but one of his teammates offered him a premonition.

“I was sitting next to him in the locker room right before the game,” said midfielder Eddie Gaven, “and Chad (Marshall) told him that he was going to get his first goal that game and I was like, ‘Yeah, I think so too, Ben.’ ”

It proved prophetic, as Speas’ second-half goal handed the Crew a 2-1 win against D.C. United on Saturday. And although scoring the goal was emotional enough, the circumstances surrounding it meant so much more to Speas.

It was there, in the nation’s capital, that the Crew learned rookie midfielder Kirk Urso had passed away last August. The news was particularly devastating to Speas, who had been collegiate teammates with Urso at North Carolina. Since then, Speas had been vocal about his plans to dedicate his first career goal – whenever it would come – to his late friend and teammate.

For it to come in such a fashion left Speas thankful for the opportunity.

“I would have liked to get it last year, but I think it was fitting that it was the same place that we found out,” Speas said after yesterday’s training session in Obetz, Ohio. “It was crazy and a weird thing but it was awesome to be able to get the goal and get it for Kirk. It meant a lot.”& amp; lt; /p>

This was not the Crew’s first return to Washington D.C. since Urso’s passing, and the city brings out different emotions in different players. Some said they think of Urso more when they are there, while others said the city does not bring out any extra emotions.

Gaven said he falls into the former category.

“It’s always there, and I think even more so whenever we go there because that’s where we all found out,” he said. “I remember getting that call at 6 a.m. and we had a little team meeting. It’s something I’ll never, ever forget. It was nice to go back there and be able to win for Kirk. I was happy we were able to do that.”

As if Speas could put that out of his mind, the midfielder said he is pretty sure he wound up in the same hotel room as he did during that emotional August trip.

“It brings it back,” he said. “I’ll never forget it. It was awful and surreal.”

The coaches awarded Speas the game ball for the win, and he said he spoke with Urso’s mother after the win.

“She’s just emotional and she thought it was pretty ironic-slash-awesome that I was able to get that there for Kirk,” he said.

Now the hope is that there is more to come from Speas, who has made a significant case to remain in the starting lineup when Jairo Arrieta (international duty) and Gaven (ankle injury) are both back and available for selection next weekend.

“I was excited to get my first goal,” he said. “It meant a lot. I’ve worked a long time to get to the point where I was able to get on the field and get a goal. It means a lot. Move on from it now. I got my first one, and hopefully there’s more to come.”